The Kalka 'Better childcare facilities in Kalka' Shared Responsibility Agreement (SRA) was agreed between the Kalka Indigenous Community, the Commonwealth Government, the South Australian Government, the Nganampa Health Council and the Pitjantjatjara Homelands Council Aboriginal Corporation on 10 January 2006. This SRA states that its purpose is to improve the childcare facilities available to the Kalka community.

Shared Responsibility Agreements are agreements between governments and Indigenous communities to provide discretionary funding in return for community obligations. The new arrangements developed from an initiative of the Council of Australian Governments and replace the previous ATSIC system of funding. For more information see 'Shared Responsibility Agreement' below.

Detailed Information:

Purpose

The SRA states that its purpose is to expand the facilities and services of the Kalka Community Children's Recreation Centre, and to focus on community parenting skills at the Kalka Community Playgroup.

Shared Responsibilities

The community will contribute funds towards the costs of outfitting the community centre and will, through CDEP, provide workers for that undertaking. Community resources, such as the backhoe, will be made available free of charge to the builder. The community will also identify key people to run the expanded childcare; provide volunteers and CDEP workers to run programs; and negotiate with Nganampa Health Council to deliver primary health care and first aid training to appropriate community members.

Families and individuals will be playgroup leaders, as both volunteers and CDEP workers. Parents will assist in playgroup activities, keep the building clean and help prepare breakfasts. Families and CDEP participants will also support the 'no work, no pay' policy.

The Commonwealth Government proposes to provide $126,000 to upgrade the existing community building and to purchase child care equipment and an outdoor shade. The South Australian Government will provide $69,000 that will go towards skills training, first aid training, and towards the building upgrade. The Nganampa Health Council will provide $1,000 for first aid training, and the Pitjantjatjara Homelands Council Aboriginal Corporation will provide $3,000 towards the costs of the upgrade.

The funding of the SRA is subject to the partners entering into a legally binding funding agreement.

Performance Indicators

The SRA includes the following performance indicators, to be provided quarterly by the Kalka community:
1. Number of Indigenous children participating in childcare activities; and
2. Number of Indigenous parents participating in training sessions and activities.

The key milestones of the project that are the subject of this SRA are: the upgrade and fit out of the childcare building; the training of the child care workers; and the centre being able to be in use.

The feedback mechanisms include:

two-way council and community stakeholder feedback;

quarterly monitoring of the SRA, to focus on specific outcomes related to children's health and attendance at the centre. In addition, the monitoring will ensure financial accountability and ensure the program is being properly run.